Sandburg
1. Eight starters return from 33-7 third-place Class AA finisher. Foremost is Indiana-bound Sara Olson, a .435 hitter with 18 doubles and 32 RBIs who was also 21-3 with a 0.90 ERA. The Eagles also welcome back first baseman Andrea Colosimo (.368), and catcher Ashley Conrad.
Oak Park
2. Led by junior ace Seana Stillson (13-2, 0.30 ERA) and DePaul-bound centerfielder Alex Morocco (.380, 17 steals), the Huskies (31-5 last spring) look to improve on their ’06 Elite Eight finish. Watch for first baseman Lindsay MacWilliams (.357), and junior slugger Kim Grimes.
Beecher
3. Seven starters return from 35-1 team that lost in the supersectionals to Class A champion St. Joseph-Ogden. Junior Alex Lagesse was 16-0 with a 0.19 ERA and hit .419.
Barrington
4. The Fillies are looking for a return trip to East Peoria after last year’s Elite Eight finish and 33-7 record. Claire Voris (23-5, 0.48 ERA) will keep her team in every game and await offensive support from catcher Allie DeWitt (.343) and centerfielder Sammie Bloomfield.
Lincoln-Way East
5. Nine Griffins will play college softball, led by Georgia-bound shortstop Alisa Goler (.400, 18 doubles). Pitcher Brittany McElmury has signed with Illinois State, and junior catcher Brianna Lizen has committed to the Redbirds. Second baseman Christine Signore has signed with SIU-Edwardsville, while outfielder Kelly Laas is headed to St. Cloud State in Minnesota.
Also keep an eye on: Marist, Lockport, Lemont, Glenbard North, Lincoln-Way Central.
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PLAYER CL SCHOOL POS
Alicia Abbott Sr. Lincoln-Way C. 1B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Illinois-Chicago signee hit .495 with four HRs
and 41 RBIs.
Katie Anderson Sr. Maine South SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Among best in north suburbs after batting .614
last spring.
Brooke Andresen So. Downers South OF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Quite a rookie season in ’06, batting .390 with
14 doubles.
Colleen Biebel Sr. Marist P-CF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Western Illinois signee was 12-3 with six shutouts
while batting .360.
Rebecca Baltikas Jr. Lockport SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Helped lead soph team to 35-2 record; oral
Commitment to Illinois State.
Nicki Barrett Sr. Richards OF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Left-handed slap hitter batted .427 for Bulldogs
last spring.
Michelle Batts Sr. Glenbard North 1B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: NU-bound All-Stater hit .454 with 14 HRs and
50 RBIs in 37 games.
Dana Bowler So. Lockport P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: The 5-11 athlete is latest prodigy in Porters’
long line of pitching greats.
Katelyn Braget Jr. Lockport CF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: DePaul coach Eugene Lenti wasted little time
securing commitment.
Lynsey Ciezki Jr. Lake Park SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Hit .396 with 23 stolen bases and made an oral
commitment to DePaul.
Andrea Colosimo Sr. Sandburg 1B-P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Helped Eagles finish third in Class AA batting
.348 with 24 RBIs.
Nicole Costello Sr. Richards 3B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Big-time run producer batted .471 last season
with 31 RBIs.
Autumn DeGard Sr. McAuley C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Cleanup batter hit .357 and led Mighty Macs with
17 RBIs.
Carly DeMarco Sr. Lincoln-Way C. P-SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Southpaw, an Illinois-Chicago signee, was 10-2
with 0.90 ERA.
Allie DeWitt Sr. Barrington C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Could emerge as one of best backstops in state after
batting .343.
Christine Durco So. McAuley SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Infielders back way up in practice when power-laden
prospect hits.
Brittany Fairbairn Sr. Glenbard East 2B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Unanimous all-DuPage Valley choice hit .486 with
12 doubles, nine triples.
Gabe Gavoni Jr. Lincoln-Way C. 2B-P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Three-year starter batted .350 last spring
with 30 RBIs.
Alisa Goler Sr. Lincoln-Way East SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Georgia signee hit .400 last season with 18
stolen bases.
Michelle Gorzelle Sr. Fremd 3B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Lefty slapper batted .438 last season with 32
stolen bases.
Jenna Grim Sr. Beecher C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Second-team All-Stater batted .495 with 43 RBIs
last season.
Brittany Hanrahan Sr. Providence 3B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Hit .381 with 15 doubles, ranks No. 2 in her
class; headed to Colgate.
Lindsey Hayes So. Riv.-Brookfield SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Emerging talent batted .393 and had five
game-winning hits.
Christine Holthus Sr. Burlington C. 2B-OF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Batted .420 last spring with 33 stolen bases
and 44 runs.
Kiley Holtz Sr. Larkin 1B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Dangerous hitter batted .518 with 7 HRs and
24 RBIs last spring.
Kelli Humbert Sr. Dwight P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Coming off stellar 29-4 year with 0.35 ERA
while hitting. 380 with 29 RBIs.
Jill Jacobson Sr. Beecher CF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Three-year starter hit .367 and was nearly
flawless in field.
Rachel Krabbe Sr. Beecher SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Speedster batted .410 and helped set table
for Grim & Co.
Alex Lagesse Jr. Beecher P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Was 16-0, 0.19 ERA on mound; batted .419
with 34-game hitting streak.
Brittany LeBeau Sr. Richards P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Bulldogs ace was 24-5 with 12 shutouts and
252 K’s in 181 innings.
Lindsey Liermann Sr. Downers South C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Batted .389 with 11 doubles for last year’s
Class AA runner-up.
Brianna Lizen Jr. Lincoln-Way East C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Threw out 10 of 16 runners attempting to
steal; headed to Illinois State.
Nikki Marinec Sr. Marist C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Will join batterymate, Biebel, at Western
Illinois next season.
Lindsey Major Sr. Joliet Catholic C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Impressive showing in summer earned her
scholarship from Iowa.
Jaime Makowski Sr. Benet 1B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Hit .396 with 5 HRs and is looking at Indiana
and Miami (Ohio).
Alex Morocco Sr. Oak Park CF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Speedy leadoff hitter batted .380 last spring
and signed with DePaul.
Brittany McElmury Sr. Lincoln-Way East P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Illinois State signee will share mound with
Jennifer Burns, Jessica Iversen.
Sara Olson Jr. Sandburg P-3B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Second-team All-Stater was 21-3 on mound and
hit .435 with 32 RBIs.
Jocelyn Oppenhuis So. Illiana Christian P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Went 10-3 as freshman; had 175 strikeouts in
just 96 innings.
Kelly Petersen Sr. Willowbrook CF
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Slap-hitting leadoff batter had .450 batting
average with 20 steals.
Jackie Roth Jr. Stagg C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Two-time all-conference selection has made
commitment to Bradley.
Suzie Rzegocki Sr. Lemont P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Purdue-bound All-Stater was 24-5 with 0.17 ERA,
11 no-hitters, 445 K’s.
Hannah Santora So. Glenbard North P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Went 19-4 with 0.19 ERA in first varsity season. Laura Scott So. Glenbard North 3B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Another member of Panthers’ talented
sophomore class batted .374.
Christie Seddon Sr. Joliet Catholic 2B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: UIC signee hit .415 with 11 doubles and
four triples.
Kelly Small Sr. Oak Lawn SS
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Speedy contact hitter batted .375 and is being
recruited by Lewis U.
Kayla Smith Sr. Glenbard North 2B
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Hit .448 with 13 steals and is deciding
between Eastern Ill. and Lewis.
Ashley Steinhilder So. Glenbard West C
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Lefty thrower hailed as best defensive catcher
to play for Lee Maciejewski.
Seana Stillson Jr. Oak Park P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Three-year starter was 13-2 with 0.30 ERA and
features wicked changeup.
Claire Voris Sr. Barrington P
BOB SAKAMOTO’S QUICK HIT: Fillies ace was 23-5 with 0.48 ERA on Class
AA quarterfinalist.
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